Trombone support

ABSTRACT

A support structure for supporting a trombone in the hand of a player with the wrist and forearm of the player having an in-line position when supporting the trombone in a playing position includes a support means for engaging with the stationary slide member of the trombone. The support means includes a first surface portion for engaging with the palm of the hand of a player and supporting substantially the entire weight of the trombone in the palm of the player&#39;&#39;s hand and a second surface portion disposed substantially parallel to the first surface portion for engaging with at least two of the fingers of the hand of the player. The support means further includes a third surface portion disposed substantially perpendicular to the first and second surface portions for engaging with the thumb of the hand of the player. The second and third surface portions cooperate with the fingers and thumb respectively of the player&#39;&#39;s hand to control the angular orientation of the trombone relative to the player while the weight thereof is supported by the first surface portion of the palm of the player&#39;&#39;s hand. The support means enables the player to support the trombone in a position which renders the player less susceptible to fatigue than known trombone supports.

United States Patent [191 McCracken TROMBONE SUPPORT [75] Inventor: George T. McCracken, Mayfield Village, Ohio [73] Assignee: King Musical Instruments, Eastlake,

Ohio

[22] Filed: Sept. 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 399,347

11/1930 Williams 84/395 Primary Examiner-Lawrence R. Franklin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Marvin L. Union [57] ABSTRACT A support structure for supporting a trombone in the [451 Sept. 10, 1974 hand of a player with the wrist and forearm of the player having an in-line position when supporting the trombone in a playing position includes a support means for engaging with the stationary slide member of the trombone. The support means includes a first surface portion for engaging with the palm of the hand of a player and supporting substantially the entire weight of the trombone in the palm of the players hand and a second surface portion disposed substantially parallel to the first surface portion for engaging with at least two of the fingers of the hand of the player. The support means further includes a third surface portion disposed substantially perpendicular to the first and second surface portions for engaging with the thumb of the hand of the player. The second and third surface portions cooperate with the fingers and thumb respectively of the players hand to control the angular orientation of the trombone relative to the player while the weight thereof is supported by the first surface portion of the palm of the players hand. The support means enables the player to support the trombone in a position which renders the player less susceptible to fatigue than known trombone supports.

12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures TROMBONE SUPPORT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to support for a trombone and more specifically to a support for a trombone wherein the support supports the weight of the trombone in the palm of the players hand with the wrist and forearm of the player have an in-line position to allevi- 4 ate fatigue caused by supporting the trombone for an extended period of time.

Support structures for trombones are known in the art. The known support structures for tromones are exemplified by the Neptune US. Pat. No. 1,905,045, the Williams US Pat. No. 1,7 82,452, and the Martins U.S. Pat. No. 1,255,766. These patents all disclose trombone support structures which attempt to alleviate the fatigue associated with supporting the trombone for extended periods of time. However, the results obtained by the utilization of these known support structures leave much to be desired. Specifically, the known trombone supports generally utilize the fingers of the hand in conjunction with the palm of the hand to support the trombone. Since the fingers are utilized in supporting the weight of the instrument, the wrist and forearm of the player which supports the instrument are disposed in a broken position relative to each other when supporting the trombone. This is exemplified by FIG. 1 of the Martins patent, which discloses the wrist and forearm of the player in a broken position. Even though the Martins patent alleges that most of the weight of the instrument is supported in the palm of the hand of the player it can be seen that when the wrist and forearm are in a broken position, the fingers still support a substantial amount of the weight of the trombone, thus leading to fatigue of the user over an extended period of time.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention relates to a trombone support wherein substantially the entire weight of the trombone is supported in the palm of the players hand and the fingers and thumb of the players hand are utilized to control the angular orientation of the instrument relative to the player. This enables the player of the instrument to comfortably support the instrument for extended periods of time without the fatigue associated with the prior art.

In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus is provided for supporting a trombone in the hand of a player with the wrist and forearm of the player having an in-line position when supporting the trombone in a playing position. The apparatus includes support means which may be affixed to the trombone so that the support means engages with one of the two parallel portions of the stationary slide member of the trombone. The support means includes a first surface portion for engaging with the palm of the hand of a player and which supports substantially the entire weight of the trombone in the palm of the players hand, a second surface portion disposed substantially parallel to the first surface portion for engaging with at least two of the fingers of the hand of the player and which cooperates with the fingers to control the angular orientation of the trombone relative to the player, and a third surface portion disposed substantially perpendicular to the first and second surface portion for engaging with the thumb of the hand of the player and which cooperates therewith to further control the angular orientation of the trombone relative to the player.

The present invention further provides a support for a trombone as set forth in the next preceding paragraph wherein the second surface portion cooperates with the fingers of the hand of the player to direct the fingers into engagement therewith when the fingers extend in a first direction around the stationary slide member of the trombone and wherein the third surface portion cooperates with the thumb of the player to direct the thumb into engagement therewith when the thumb extends in a second direction, opposite the first direction, around the stationary slide member.

Another provision of the present invention is to provide a support for supporting a trombone in the hand of a player with the wrist and forearm having an in-line position when supporting the trombone in a playing position. The support includes support means rigidly attached to the stationary slide of the trombone and includes a first elongate surface portion for engaging with the palm of the hand of the player for supporting sub stantially the entire weight of the trombone in the palm of the hand of the player, a second surface portion for engaging with at least two of the second, third and fourth fingers of the hand of the player. The first and second surface portions are disposed substantially parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stationary slide of the trombone. The second surface portion cooperates with at least two of the second, third and fourth fingers of the player to control the angular orientation of the trombone relative to the player when the trombone is in its playing position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a trombone having the support mounted on the stationary slide member thereof illustrating the wrist and forearm of the player supporting the trombone while having an in-line position relative to each other;

FIG. 2 is a perspective end view of the trombone more fully illustrating the wrist and forearm of the player in an in-line position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the support illustrating the support attached to the stationary slide member of the trombone; and

FIG. 4 is an end view taken approximately along the lines 44 of FIG. 3 more fully illustrating the support.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a trombone 10 having a support 12 is illustrated. The trombone 10 includes a bell assembly 14 which is attached to a slide assembly 16. The slide assembly 16 includes a movable slide member 18 and a stationary slide member 20. The movable slide member 18 is movable relative to the stationary slide member 20 in a well known manner. The movable slide 18 includes a hand slide brace 22 which is gripped by the hand of a player and moved relative to the stationary slide 20 to effect movement of the movable slide member 18. The movable slide 18 also includes a water key 24 which is disposed on the end of the movable slide member 18 for allowing saliva to be drained from the slide assembly 16. The stationary slide member 20 includes a mouthpiece receiver 26, which is adapted to receive a mouthpiece 28 therein. A stationary slide brace 30 is disposed on the stationary slide member 20 to add rigidity to the stationary slide 20 and mouthpiece receiver 26.

The bell 14 is attached to the slide assembly 16 by a suitable connection 32. The bell assembly 14 includes a bell 19 which is supported by a bell brace 34 and a tuning brace 36. A main tuning slide assembly 38 interconnects the bell 19 and the tubing 40 of the bell assembly 14. The main tuning slide 38 may be moved relative to the bell 19 and the tubing 40 to tune the instru ment 10. The moving of the main tuning slide 38 relative to the bell 19 and tubing 40 changes the effective length of the air passage through the instrument to thereby change the resonance of the sound waves directed through the trombone. Thus, movement of the main tuning slide 38 tunes the trombone by changing the effective length of the air passage through the trombone.

The player of the trombone l directs sound waves into the mouthpiece 28. The sound waves are then directed through the upper portion (as viewed in FIG. 1) of the stationary slide 20, through the movable slide member 18, through the lower portion of the stationary slide 20, through the tubing 40, through the tuning slide 38 and to the bell 19 of the trombone where the sound waves are directed to the surrounding air. The movable slide member 18 is moved relative to the stationary slide 20 to change the resonance of the trombone to thereby enable the player of the trombone to produce different notes at the bell 19 in a well known manner.

The support member 12 is provided to enable the player of the trombone to support the trombone in the palm of the players hand when the trombone is in a playing position. The support 12 is adapted to be mounted on one portion of the stationary slide member 20. To this end, the support 12 for the trombone includes a cylindrical passage disposed therein which is adapted to surround one portion of the stationary slide member 20 as is illustrated in FIG. 3. The support 12 is constructed in two pieces 12a and 1212 which are adapted to be separated to enable the support to be secured to the stationary slide member 20. A plurality of bolts 50 are provided to secure the two pieces 12a and 12b of the support member 12 about the stationary slide member 20. When it is desired to attach the support 12 to the stationary slide 20 the bolts 50 are removed from the two pieces 12a and 12b and the two pieces 12a and 12b of the support 12 are moved apart to enable the stationary slide 20 to be positioned in the cylindrical passage 48 disposed in the pieces 12a and 12b of the stationary slide member 20. After the stationary slide member 20 is positioned in the annular opening 48 and the two pieces 12a and 12b are positioned about the stationary slide 20 the bolts 50 are then tightened to secure the support 12 to the stationary slide 20. The support 12 is then rigidly affixed to the stationary slide 20 to support the instrument in the palm of the players hand.

The support 12 includes first, second and third surface portions 42, 44 and 46, respectively, which are adapted to be grasped by the players hand to support the trombone. The first surface portion 42 is engageable with the palm of the hand of the player to support substantially the entire weight of the instrument in the plam of the players hand. The second surface portion 44 is operable to engage with the second, third and fourth fingers of the players hand when the weight of the instrument is supported in the palm of the players hand as is illustrated in FIG. 1. The third surface portion 46 is adapted to engage with the thumb of the players hand. The third surface portion 46 is disposed substantially perpendicular to the first surface portion 42 and the second surface portion 44. The first and second surface portions 42 and 44 are disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stationary slide member 20 and the third surface portion 46 is disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stationary slide member 20. A projection 48 extends from the second surface portion 44 of the support member 12 and may be utilized to rest the first finger of the players hand thereon.

As is illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 when the hand of the player engages with the support 12, the palm of the players hand will engage with the surface 42 and will support substantially the entire weight of the trombone 10 in the palm of the players hand. The second, third and fourth fingers will extend around the stationary slide 20 in a first direction and engage with the surface 44 of the support 12. The thumb of the players hand will extend around the stationary slide member 20 in a direction opposite to that in which the second, third and fourth fingers extend and will engage with the third surface portion 46. The thumb 32 will engage with the surface portion 46 and cooperate with the second, third and fourth fingers which engage with the surface portion 44 to control the angular orientation of the trombone 10 when the trombone is supported in a playing position. It should be appreciated that the thumb and the fingers of the player extend around opposite sides of the support 12. This enables the player to have positive control over the angular orientation of the instrument. Moveover, when the hand of the player is engaged with the support 12, the first, second and third surfaces 42, 44 and 46 respectively, will position the thumb and fingers of the hand in such a manner that the wrist and forearm of the players hand will be disposed in an in-line, straight position relative to each other.

The second and third surface portions 44 and 46 are not load bearing surfaces due to the fact that substantially the entire weight of the instrument is supported by the surface portion 42 of the support 12. Moreover, while the second surface portion 44 is disclosed for engaging with the second, third and fourth fingers of the players hand, it should be apparent that only two of the second, third and fourth fingers need be engaged with the second surface portion. For example, the second surface portion could be made to engage with only the third and fourth fingers of the players hand without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It should be appreciated that the configuration of the present support 12 which provides for the second, third and fourth fingers to encircle the support 12 in a first direction to engage with the second surface portion 44 while the thumb encircles the support 12 in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to engage with the surface portion 46, enables the wrist and forearm of the player to be disposed in an unbroken or straight line position with substantially the entire weight of the trombone 10 supported directly in the palm of the users hand. Since the wrist and forearm are in a straight line position relative to each other, pivoting of the hand and wrist relative to the forearm will be minimized in that the forces from the weight of the instrument will be transferred directly through the palm of the users hand to the forearm of the user. Thus, the users arm will be substantially supporting the weight of the insturment as it is transferred in a downwardly direction from the palm of the hand. This is in contrast to the known supports wherein the trombone is supported in such a manner that the wrist and forearm have a broken or non-aligned position. When the wrist and forearm of the player are broken, the wrist and hand of the player tend to support the majority of the weight of the trombone with the majority of the weight being supported directly by the fingers and then transferred to the wrist of the players hand. The broken position tends to create fatigue after the trombone has been supported for a substantial duration. This is especially true in the larger trombones such as valve trombones. However, when the palm of the players hand supports the trombone and the wrists and forearm are in an unbroken position, fatigue is less likely to occur.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that the present invention provides a new and novel support structure for supporting the weight of a trombone in the palm of the players hand with the players wrist and forearm having an in-line position when supporting the instrument in its playing position. To this end, the support includes a first surface portion for engaging with the palm of the players hand and supporting substantially the entire weight of the instrument of the trombone in the palm of the users hand, a second surface portion for engagement with the second, third and fourth fingers of the players hand and a third surface portion disposed substantially perpendicular to the first and second surface portions for engaging with the thumb of the players hand. The second and third surface portions cooperate with the fingers and thumb, respectively, of the users hand to control the angular orientation of the instrument relative to the user. By providing the novel support structure, the trombone may be supported in the palm of the users hand with the wrist and forearm assuming an in-line position to thereby alleviate the fatigue caused by supporting the weight of the instrument over extended periods of time.

I now claim:

1. A trombone support for a trombone having a stationary slide member having two parallel stationary slide portions for supporting substantially the entire weight of the trombone when the trombone is in a playing position in the palm of the hand of a player with the wrist and forearm of the player having an in-line position when supporting the trombone in a playing position comprising rigid support means for engaging with only one of said two parallel stationary slide portions, said support means including a first surface portion disposed substantially parallel to the elongate axis of said one stationary slide portion for engaging with the palm of the hand of the player and supporting substantially the entire weight of the trombone in the palm of the players hand and a second surface portion disposed substantially parallel to the elongate axis of said one stationary slide, portion for engaging with at least two of the fingers of the hand of the player, said second surface portion being operable to cooperate with said fingers to control the angular orientation of the trombone relative to the player when the weight thereof is supported in the palm of the players hand.

2. A trombone support for a trombone as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means further includes a third surface portion disposed substantially perpendicular to said first and second surface portions for engaging with the thumb of the hand of a player, said third surface portion being disposed to position the thumb of the player to further control the angular orientation of the trombone relative to the player when the weight is supported in the palm of the players hand, said second surface portion cooperating with at least two of the fingers of the hand of the player to direct the fingers into engagement therewith when the fingers extend in a first direction around said one stationary slide portion and said third surface portion cooperating with the hand of the player to direct the thumb into engagement therewith when the thumb extends in a second direction, opposite said first direction, around said one stationary slide portion.

3. A trombone support for supporting a trombone as defined in claim 2 wherein said support means includes first and second members adapted to be held in a contiguous relationship, said first and second members when in said contiguous relationship forming a cylindrical opening therebetween which is adapted to surround the one stationary slide portion and fastening means adapted to hold said first and second members in said contiguous relationship when said one stationary slide portion is disposed within said cylindrical opening to rigidly affix said first and second members to said one stationary slide portion.

4. A trombone support as defined in claim 3 wherein said support means further includes an elongate projection projecting from said second surface portion, said elongate projection extending substantially perpendicular to said first and second surface portions for positioning the first finger of the players hand when the weight of the trombone is supported in the palm of the players hand by said first surface portion.

5. A trombone support for a trombone having a stationary slide member for supporting the weight of the trombone when the trombone is supported in a playing position in the palm of the hand of a player with the wrist and forearm of the player assuming an in-line position comprising support means rigidly attachable to the stationary slide of the trombone, said support means including a first elongate surface portion for engaging with the palm of the hand of the player for supporting substantially the entire weight of the trombone in the palm of the hand of the player, a second surface portion for engaging with at least two of the second, third and fourth fingers of the players hand, and a third surface portion for engaging with the thumb of the players hand, said first and second surface portions being disposed substantially parallel to each other and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stationary slide member when the support means is rigidly affixed to the trombone, said third surface portion being disposed substantially perpendicular to said first and second surface portions.

6. A trombone support as defined in claim 5 wherein said second surface portion is operable to engage with and direct at least two of said second, third and fourth fingers of the players hand around said support means in a first direction, and said third surface portion is operable to engage with and direct the thumb of the playdefined in claim 6 wherein said support means includes first and second members adapted to be held in a contiguous relationship, said first and second members when in said contiguous relationship forming a cylindrical opening therebetween which is adapted to surround one portion of the stationary slide member and fastening means adapted to hold said, first and second members in said contiguous relationship when said one portion of the stationary slide member is disposed with said cylindrical opening to rigidly affix said first and second members to said one portion of the stationary slide member.

8. A trombone support as defined in claim 7 wherein said support means further includes an elongate projection projecting from said second surface portion, said elongate projection extending substantially perpendicular to said first and second surface portions for positioning the first finger of the players hand when the weight of the trombone is supported in the palm of the players hand by said first surface portion.

9. A trombone support for a trombone having a stationary slide member for supporting the weight of the trombone when the trombone is supported in a playing position in the palm of the hand of a player with the wrist and forearm of the player assuming an in-line position comprising support means rigidly attachable to the stationary slide of a trombone, said support means including a first elongate surface portion for engaging with the palm of the hand of the player for supporting substantially the entire weight of the trombone in the palm of the hand of the player, a second surface portion for engaging with the second, third and fourth fingers of the players hand, and a third surface portion for engaging with the thumb of the player's hand, said first and second surface portions being disposed substantially parallel to each other and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stationary slide member when the support means is rigidly affixed to the trombone, said second and third surface portions being operable to cooperate with the second, third and fourth fingers and the thumb, of the players hand to control the angular orientation of the trombone relative to the player. i

10. A trombone support as defined in claim 9 wherein said third surface portion is disposed substantially perpendicular to said first and second surface portions, said second surface portion is operable to engage with and direct said second, third and fourth fingers of the players hand around said support means in a first direction, and said third surface portion is operable to engage with and direct the thumb of the players hand around said support means in a second direction opposite said first direction, said second and third surface portions being operable to cooperate with the second, third and fourth fingers and the thumb of the players hand, respectively, to control the angular orientation of the trombone when the trombone is in a playing position and the weight of the trombone is substantially entirely supported in the palm of the players hand.

11. A trombone support for a trombone having a stationary slide member having two parallel stationary slide portions for supporting substantially the entire weight of the trombone when the trombone is in a playing position in the palm of the hand of the player with the wrist and forearm of the player having an in-line p0 sition when supporting the trombone in a playing position comprising rigid support means for engaging with at least one of said two parallel stationary slide portions, said support means including a first surface portion disposed substantially parallel to the elongate axis of said stationary slide portions for engaging with the palm of the hand of a player and supporting substantially the entire weight of the trombone in the palm of the players hand, and a second surface portion disposed substantially parallel to the elongate axis of the stationary slide portions for engaging with at least two of the fingers of the hand of the player, said second surface portion being operable to cooperate with said fingers to control the angular orientation of the trombone relative to the player when the weight thereof is sup ported in the palm of the players hand.

12. A trombone support for a trombone as defined in claim 11 wherein said support means further includes a third surface portion disposed substantially perpendicular to said first and second surface portions for engaging with the thumb of the hand of the player.

iJ-Nlm STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 334 .2 3 Dated September 10, 1974 Inventor(s) p g T McCracken It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Abstract, line 21, "portion of" should read portion in Column 1, line 5, "to support" should read to a support line 9, "have" should read having Column 8, line 2, "thumb," should read thumb, respectively,

Signed and sealed this 14th day of January 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY n. GIBSON JR. 0. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PC4050 USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 LLS, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 930

STATES IAT ENT OFFICE 2 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,334 Dated September 10, 1974 Inventor(s) George T CIaCken It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Abstract, line 21, "portion of" should read portion in Column 1, line 5, "to support" should read to a support line 9, "have" should read having Column 8, line 2, "thumb," should read thumb, respectively,

Signed and sealed this 14th day of January 1975.

(SEAL) Attest GIBSON JR. c. MARSHALL DANN McCOY M.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 u.s. eovsnrmzm' PRINTING orncs: 930

FORM PC4050 (O-69) 

1. A trombone support for a trombone having a stationary slide member having two parallel stationary slide portions for supporting substantially the entire weight of the trombone when the trombone is in a playing position in the palm of the hand of a player with the wrist and forearm of the player having an inline position when supporting the trombone in a playing position comprising rigid support means for engaging with only one of said two parallel stationary slide portions, said support means including a first surface portion disposed substantially parallel to the elongate axis of said one stationary slide portion for engaging with the palm of the hand of the player and supporting substantially the entire weight of the trombone in the palm of the player''s hand and a second surface portion disposed substantially parallel to the elongate axis of said one stationary slide portion for engaging with at least two of the fingers of the hand of the player, said second surface portion being operable to cooperate with said fingers to control the angular orientation of the trombone relative to the player when the weight thereof is supported in the palm of the player''s hand.
 2. A trombone support for a trombone as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means further includes a third surface portion disposed substantially perpendicular to said first and second surface portions for engaging with the thumb of the hand of a player, said third surface portion being disposed to position the thumb of the player to further control the angular orientation of the trombone relative to the player when the weight is supported in the palm of the player''s hand, said second surface portion cooperating with at least two of the fingers of the hand of the player to direct the fingers into engagement therewith when the fingers extend in a first direction around said one stationary slide portion and said third surface portion cooperating with the hand of the player to direct the thumb into engagement therewith when the thumb extends in a second direction, opposite said first direction, around said one stationary slide portion.
 3. A trombone support for supporting a trombonE as defined in claim 2 wherein said support means includes first and second members adapted to be held in a contiguous relationship, said first and second members when in said contiguous relationship forming a cylindrical opening therebetween which is adapted to surround the one stationary slide portion and fastening means adapted to hold said first and second members in said contiguous relationship when said one stationary slide portion is disposed within said cylindrical opening to rigidly affix said first and second members to said one stationary slide portion.
 4. A trombone support as defined in claim 3 wherein said support means further includes an elongate projection projecting from said second surface portion, said elongate projection extending substantially perpendicular to said first and second surface portions for positioning the first finger of the player''s hand when the weight of the trombone is supported in the palm of the player''s hand by said first surface portion.
 5. A trombone support for a trombone having a stationary slide member for supporting the weight of the trombone when the trombone is supported in a playing position in the palm of the hand of a player with the wrist and forearm of the player assuming an in-line position comprising support means rigidly attachable to the stationary slide of the trombone, said support means including a first elongate surface portion for engaging with the palm of the hand of the player for supporting substantially the entire weight of the trombone in the palm of the hand of the player, a second surface portion for engaging with at least two of the second, third and fourth fingers of the player''s hand, and a third surface portion for engaging with the thumb of the player''s hand, said first and second surface portions being disposed substantially parallel to each other and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stationary slide member when the support means is rigidly affixed to the trombone, said third surface portion being disposed substantially perpendicular to said first and second surface portions.
 6. A trombone support as defined in claim 5 wherein said second surface portion is operable to engage with and direct at least two of said second, third and fourth fingers of the player''s hand around said support means in a first direction, and said third surface portion is operable to engage with and direct the thumb of the player''s hand around said support means in a second direction opposite said first direction, said second and third surface portions being operable to cooperate with at least two of the second, third and fourth fingers and the thumb of the player''s hand, respectively, to control the angular orientation of the trombone when the trombone is in a playing position and the weight of the trombone is substantially entirely supported in the palm of the player''s hand.
 7. A trombone support for supporting a trombone as defined in claim 6 wherein said support means includes first and second members adapted to be held in a contiguous relationship, said first and second members when in said contiguous relationship forming a cylindrical opening therebetween which is adapted to surround one portion of the stationary slide member and fastening means adapted to hold said first and second members in said contiguous relationship when said one portion of the stationary slide member is disposed with said cylindrical opening to rigidly affix said first and second members to said one portion of the stationary slide member.
 8. A trombone support as defined in claim 7 wherein said support means further includes an elongate projection projecting from said second surface portion, said elongate projection extending substantially perpendicular to said first and second surface portions for positioning the first finger of the player''s hand when the weight of the trombone is supported in the palm of the player''s hand by said first surface portion.
 9. A trombone support for a tRombone having a stationary slide member for supporting the weight of the trombone when the trombone is supported in a playing position in the palm of the hand of a player with the wrist and forearm of the player assuming an in-line position comprising support means rigidly attachable to the stationary slide of a trombone, said support means including a first elongate surface portion for engaging with the palm of the hand of the player for supporting substantially the entire weight of the trombone in the palm of the hand of the player, a second surface portion for engaging with the second, third and fourth fingers of the player''s hand, and a third surface portion for engaging with the thumb of the player''s hand, said first and second surface portions being disposed substantially parallel to each other and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stationary slide member when the support means is rigidly affixed to the trombone, said second and third surface portions being operable to cooperate with the second, third and fourth fingers and the thumb, of the player''s hand to control the angular orientation of the trombone relative to the player.
 10. A trombone support as defined in claim 9 wherein said third surface portion is disposed substantially perpendicular to said first and second surface portions, said second surface portion is operable to engage with and direct said second, third and fourth fingers of the player''s hand around said support means in a first direction, and said third surface portion is operable to engage with and direct the thumb of the player''s hand around said support means in a second direction opposite said first direction, said second and third surface portions being operable to cooperate with the second, third and fourth fingers and the thumb of the player''s hand, respectively, to control the angular orientation of the trombone when the trombone is in a playing position and the weight of the trombone is substantially entirely supported in the palm of the player''s hand.
 11. A trombone support for a trombone having a stationary slide member having two parallel stationary slide portions for supporting substantially the entire weight of the trombone when the trombone is in a playing position in the palm of the hand of the player with the wrist and forearm of the player having an in-line position when supporting the trombone in a playing position comprising rigid support means for engaging with at least one of said two parallel stationary slide portions, said support means including a first surface portion disposed substantially parallel to the elongate axis of said stationary slide portions for engaging with the palm of the hand of a player and supporting substantially the entire weight of the trombone in the palm of the player''s hand, and a second surface portion disposed substantially parallel to the elongate axis of the stationary slide portions for engaging with at least two of the fingers of the hand of the player, said second surface portion being operable to cooperate with said fingers to control the angular orientation of the trombone relative to the player when the weight thereof is supported in the palm of the player''s hand.
 12. A trombone support for a trombone as defined in claim 11 wherein said support means further includes a third surface portion disposed substantially perpendicular to said first and second surface portions for engaging with the thumb of the hand of the player. 